Ritual Purity When Entering the State of Ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah

Question: Is it a condition for one who intends to enter the state of ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah that he be in a state of ritual purity, or not? Please issue a ruling for us, O honorable Shaykh, may Allah reward you.

Answer: It is not a condition, neither in 'Umrah nor in Hajj nor in qiran. If one enters the state of ihram without being in a state of ritual purity, or if he is in a state of major ritual impurity, or if a menstruating woman or a woman with post-natal bleeding enters the state of ihram, that is valid. For this reason, a menstruating woman enters the state of ihram for Hajj and 'Umrah, but she does not perform circumambulation of the House until she takes a full ritual bath. Likewise, if a man enters the state of ihram while in a state of major ritual impurity or without having performed the ablution for prayer, his ihram is valid. He should recite the talbiyah and remember Allah, but he should not perform circumambulation until he takes a full ritual bath and performs the ablution for prayer. Thus, ritual purity is not a condition for entering the state of ihram.